• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.880-887
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• 2017

We hypothesized that inflammation affects number and activity of osteoclasts (OCs) via enhancing autophagy. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced autophagy, osteoclastogenesis, and cytoplasmic reactive oxygen species (ROS) in bone marrow-derived macrophages that were pre-stimulated with receptor activator of nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ligand. An autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine (3-MA) decreased LPS-induced OC formation and bone resorption, indicating that autophagy is responsible for increasing number and activity of OCs upon LPS stimulus. Knockdown of autophagy-related protein 7 attenuated the effect of LPS on OC-specific genes, supporting a role of LPS as an autophagy inducer in OC. Removal of ROS decreased LPS-induced OC formation as well as autophagy. However, 3-MA did not affect LPS-induced ROS levels, suggesting that ROS act upstream of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase in LPS-induced autophagy. Our results suggest the possible use of autophagy inhibitors targeting OCs to reduce inflammatory bone loss.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2018

Pretreatment of low-dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces a hyporesponsive state to subsequent secondary challenge with high-dose LPS in innate immune cells, whereas super-low-dose LPS results in augmented expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, little is known about the difference between super-low-dose and low-dose LPS pretreatments on immune cell-mediated inflammatory and hepatic acute-phase responses to secondary LPS. In the present study, RAW 264.7 cells, EL4 cells, and Hepa-1c1c7 cells were pretreated with super-low-dose LPS (SL-LPS: 50 pg/mL) or low-dose LPS (L-LPS: 50 ng/mL) in fresh complete medium once a day for 2~3 days and then cultured in fresh complete medium for 24 hr or 48 hr in the presence or absence of LPS ($1{\sim}10{\mu}g/mL$) or concanavalin A (Con A). SL-LPS pretreatment strongly enhanced the LPS-induced production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, TNF-${\alpha}$/IL-10, prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$), and nitric oxide (NO) by RAW 264.7 cells compared to the control, whereas L-LPS increased IL-6 and NO production only. SL-LPS strongly augmented the Con A-induced ratios of interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$/IL-10 in EL4 cells but decreased the LPS-induced ratios of IFN-${\gamma}$/IL-10 compared to the control, while L-LPS decreased the Con A- and LPS-induced ratios of IFN-${\gamma}$/IL-10. SL-LPS enhanced the LPS-induced production of IL-6 by Hepa1c1c-7 cells compared to the control, while L-LPS increased IL-6 but decreased IL-$1{\beta}$ and C reactive protein (CRP) levels. SL-LPS pretreatment strongly enhanced the LPS-induced production of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-10, $PGE_2$, and NO in RAW 264.7 cells, and the IL-6, IL-$1{\beta}$, and CRP levels in Hepa1c1c-7 cells, as well as the ratios of IFN-${\gamma}$/IL-10 in LPS- and Con A-stimulated EL4 cells compared to L-LPS. These findings suggest that pre-conditioning of SL-LPS may contribute to the mortality to secondary infection in sepsis rather than pre-conditioning of L-LPS.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.227-234
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• 1996

This study was designed to characterize endotoxin-induced prostaglandin production in primary cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). The time course for prostaglandin synthesis in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated VSMC showed that the maximum production was reached in 12 hours. LPS induced prostaglandin H2 synthase (PGHS) activity in VSMC and the time course profile in the changes of PGHS activity paralleled that of total prostaglandin production. Differential treatment showed that 4 hours' exposure to LPS was enough for the maximum effect on the prostaglandin production and this effect was completely inhibited by the co-treatment of actinomycin D, a transcription inhibitor. These results suggest that LPS effect might be determined within 4 hours. Actinomycin D increased PGHS activity without affecting prostaglandin production if added 4 hours after LPS treatment. On the other hand, cyclogeximide, a translation inhibitor, augmented LPS-induced prostaglandin production if treated during first four hours, but it inhibited LPS-induced PGHS activity regardless of treatment schedule. These results suggest the existence of multiple regulating mechanisms in the LPS-induced prostaglandin synthesis.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.233-239
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• 2004

The present study was designed to determine the impact of mercury on endotoxin-induced inflammatory cytokine expression and corresponding signal transduction in mouse kidney. Male BALB/c mice were exposed continuously to 0, 0.3, 1.5, 7.5, or 37.5 ppm of mercury in drink-ing water for 14 days and at the end of the treatment period, lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.5 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 2 h prior to euthanasia. The doses of mercury and LPS did not cause hepatotoxicity or renal toxicity as indicated by unaltered plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, and terminal UTP nucleotide end-labeling assay from kidney, respectively. Mercury decreased kidney glutathione (GSH) and with LPS, it additively decreased GSH. Mercury activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and additively increased LPS-induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation. In contrast, mercury inhibited LPS-induced activation of extra-cellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) but had no effect alone. Mercury increased the gene expression of tumor necrosis factor $\alpha$ (TN F$\alpha$) and potentiated LPS-induced TNF$\alpha$ expression. Mercury did not affect LPS-induced interleukin-1$\beta$ (IL-1$\beta$) expression but decreased LPS-induced IL-6 expression. These results suggest that low levels of mercury might augment LPS-induced TNF$\alpha$ expression by altering GSH and p38 MAPK. Mercury modulates LPS-induced p38 and ERK activation, and downstream TNF$\alpha$ and IL-6 expression in kidney, respectively.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2008

To determine the regulatory roles of PDE4 inhibitor on LPS-induced osteoclastogenesis, we investigated the effect of a PDE4 inhibitor on osteoclast formation in the presence of LPS. A specific PDE4 inhibitor, rolipram, increased LPS-induced osteoclast formation in cocultures. To verify that whether rolipram acts indirectly on osteoblasts, we investigated the TRANCE and COX-2 mRNA expression levels in osteoblasts. Treatment of rolipram increased the expression of TRANCE and COX-2 mRNA in osteoblasts stimulated by LPS. On the contrary, rolipram did not augment the number of osteoclasts differentiated from bone marrow cells by LPS. In conclusion, the stimulation of LPS-induced osteoclast formation by the PDE4 inhibitor are attributable to its indirect effect on osteoblasts, not to their direct effect on bone marrow-derived osteoclast precursors.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2006

Quercitrin gallate was previously isolated from Persicaria lapathifolia (Polygonaceae) as an inhibitor of superoxide production. In the present study, quercitrin gallate was found to inhibit interleukin (IL)-6 production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages RAW 264.7 with an $IC_{50}$ value of $63\;{\mu}M$. Furthermore, quercitrin gallate attenuated LPS-induced synthesis of IL-6 transcript but also inhibited LPS-induced IL-6 promoter activity, indicating that the compound could down-regulate IL-6 expression at the transcription level. Since nuclear factor (NF)-kB has been shown to play a key role in LPS-inducible IL-6 expression, an effect of quercitrin gallate on LPS-induced NF-kB activation was further analyzed. Quercitrin gallate exhibited a dosedependent inhibitory effect on LPS-induced nuclear translocation of NF-kB without affecting inhibitory kB (IkB) degradation, and subsequently inhibited LPS-induced NF-kB transcriptional activity in macrophages RAW 264.7. Taken together, quercitrin gallate down-regulated LPS-induced IL-6 expression by inhibiting NF-kB activation, which could provide a pharmacological potential of the compound in IL-6-related immune and inflammatory diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2005

Background: p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling are thought to have critical role in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced immune response but the molecular mechanism underlying the induction of these signaling are not clear. Methods: Specific inhibitors for p38, SB203580, and for ERK, PD98059 were used. Cells were stimulated by LPS with or without specific MAPK inhibitors. Results: LPS activated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), subsequent NO productions, and pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expressions (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-12). Treatment of both SB203580 and PD98059 decreased LPS-induced NO productions. Concomitant decreases in the expression of iNOS mRNA and protein were detected. SB203580 and PD98059 decreased LPS-induced gene expression of IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6. SB203580 increased LPS-induced expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-12, and reactive oxygen species production, but PD98059 had no effect. Conclusion: These results indicate that both p38 and ERK pathways are involved in LPS-stimulated NO synthesis, and expression of IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6. p38 signaling pathways are involved in LPS-induced TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-12, and reactive oxygen species plays an important role in these signaling in macrophage.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.104-113
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• 2007

Background : Amygdalin is abundant in Armeniacae semen, and it is recently reported to treat cancers and relieve pain. But modus operandi of amygdalin at the level of neuron has not been reported, yet. Objective : This study aimed to find out the effect of amygdalin on glycine- and glutamate-induced ion currents in periaqueductal gray (PAG) neurons. And it was investigated that amygdalin participates in the regulation of the descending pain control system in the level of PAG neurons. Method : We investigated that the changes of glycine- and glutamate-induced ion currents in PAG neurons through application of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and application of amygdalin with LPS by using the nystatin-perforated patch clamp method. Result : Application of LPS on PAG neurons resulted in increased glycine-induced ion current, and in decreased glutamate-induced ion current. In contrast, application of amygdalin with LPS resulted in decreased glycine-induced ion current increased by LPS, and increased glutamate-induced ion current decreased by LPS. Conclusion : Amygdalin from Armeniacae semen controls glycine- and glutamate-induced ion current by LPS in PAG neurons, and it is suggested that amygdalin participates in the regulation of the descending pain control system in the level of PAG neurons.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1233-1237
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• 2004

The effects of four tanshinones isolated from Tanshen (the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Labiatae) were tested for their inhibition of nitric oxide production in macrophage cells, and the underlying molecular mechanisms studied. Of the four tanshinones used, 15, 16-dihydrotanshinone- I, tanshinone-IIA and cryptotanshinone, but not tanshinone I, demonstrated significant inhibition of the LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells, with calculated $IC_{50}$ values of 5, 8, and 1.5 ${\mu}M$ , respectively. Tanshinones exerted inhibitory activities on the LPS-induced nitric oxide production only when applied concurrently with LPS, and tanshinone- IIA and cryptotanshinone were found to inhibit LPS-induced NF-$_KB$ mobilization and extracellular- regulated kinase (ERK) activation, respectively. These results suggest that tanshinones inhibit LPS-induced nitric oxide generation by interfering with the initial stage of LPS-induced expression of certain genes. NF-$_KB$ and ERK could be the molecular targets for tanshinones for the inhibition of LPS-induced nitric oxide production in macrophage cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.200-206
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• 2014

N-(p-Coumaryol) tryptamine (CT), a phenolic amide, has been reported to exhibit anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the underlying mechanism by which CT exerts its pharmacological properties has not been clearly demonstrated. The objective of this study is to elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of CT in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged RAW264.7 macrophage cells. CT significantly inhibited LPS-induced extracellular secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and $PGE_2$, and protein expressions of iNOS and COX-2. In addition, CT significantly suppressed LPS-induced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$. To elucidate the underlying anti-inflammatory mechanism of CT, involvement of MAPK and Akt signaling pathways was examined. CT significantly attenuated LPS-induced activation of JNK/c-Jun, but not ERK and p38, in a concentration-dependent manner. Interestingly, CT appeared to suppress LPS-induced Akt phosphorylation. However, JNK inhibition, but not Akt inhibition, resulted in the suppression of LPS-induced responses, suggesting that JNK/c-Jun signaling pathway significantly contributes to LPS-induced inflammatory responses and that LPS-induced Akt phosphorylation might be a compensatory response to a stress condition. Taken together, the present study clearly demonstrates CT exerts anti-inflammatory activity through the suppression of JNK/c-Jun signaling pathway in LPS-challenged RAW264.7 macrophage cells.